Chaeles tennant lee



' (No Mqdel.) 2VSh 'eets Shee't 1. G,- T. LEE. NIGHT SIGNAL TORCH.

Patented Mar. 17} 1885.

(No Model.) 2-S heets'She et 2.

O. T. LEE. 4 NIGHT smmmzoncg. 3 No. 314,033. Patented Mar. 17. 188

Wihlass'es. IJTD/EfllIElI T N. FEIERS. Phnb l lhngnphur. Wnahinglom DC,

To all whom it may concern:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES TENNANT LEE, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

NIGHT-SIGNAL TORCH.

.GPECIPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 314,033, dated-March 17, 1885.

Application filed February 14,1834. (No model.)

Be it known that I, CHARLES TENNANT LEE, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Night-Signal Torches, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates more particularly to improvements in torches for use on sailing vessels,which are required by law to light and show a torch when a steamer is approaching at night. Heretofore such torches have been lighted by matches, or by a blank cartridge fired from a pistol forming part of the torch. Matches are unreliable on account of dampness, and the pistol is objectionable from its liability to be rendered inoperative by rust, and for other reasons. The object of my invention is to provide means for lighting torches with the greatest facility, and with the least liability of failure.

My invention consists, mainly, in the com-- bination, with a night-signal torch, of a series of wafers, of a composition that ignites by friction or percussion, placed at intervals on a strip or splint of wood or the like, and means for feeding the splint forward and igniting the compositionwafers, as hereinafter fully described, reference being had to the ac companying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a lengthwise section through the can andthe torch within it. Fig. 2 is a lengthwise section through the torch in position for signaling, and Fig. 3 is a section on line as a: of Fig. 2, looking down. Fig. 4. is an end view of the slide, showing the cover for the splint-receptacle. Fig. 5 is asection through thewick end of the torch, showing the wick-case detached from the cover; and Fig. 6 is an end View showing the cover with its edge or flange turned back to release the wick-case.

A is a can adapted to receive a torch and contain asuitable burning-fluid for saturating the wick. It also serves to protect the torch from injury, and. acts as an extinguisher when the light is no longer needed for signaling.

The torch consists of ahandle, B, and a perforated case, b, packed with a wicking, b, preferably of asbestus. The perforations admit of the wicking being saturated by immersing the case b in any suitable burning-fluid.

The case b has an opening through it, into which a portion of the wicking b. projects.

This opening" coincides with and forms an extension of the interior of the hollow handle B, to which is attached a cover, a, for the can A. The cover on also ,catches any drippings from the torch. The splintcarrier d is inserted in the hollow handle 13, and is provided with'a spring, (1, which connects it to the outer or hand end of the handle B, and acts to keep this carrier withdrawn. The carrier d receives the strip or splint d, provided at intervals with dots or wafers dflof a composition which ignites by friction or percussion. The splint is preferably provided with notches d on its edge. A spring-pawl, (1 fast to the carrier d, engages with a notch on the splint d? at each backward movement of the carrier d, and causes the splint to advance one notch at each forward movement of the carrier d. Yielding jaws d allow the splint to be moved forward, but prevent its moving backward. The jaws d are located close to the wick b, which is secured in the opening through case b, and the friction, in this instance of one of these jaws, ignites each wafer as it is fed along by pushing in the carrier 11. When percussionwafers are used, one of the jaws is arranged as a spring-hammer, and adapted to be oper ated by the slide to give the requisite blow.

' The case A is kept partially filled with burning-fluid, in which the case b,with its inclosed wick, is immersed, the wick thereby being always ready for instant ignition.

To give a signal, the outer end of the handle is grasped and the torch is removed from the can. The end of the slide is struck,usually against the leg or thigh, and pushes forward the splint so that one of the wafers is ignited by friction or percussion, as the case may be, and sets fire to the burning-fluid. The splint, generally of wood,is burned off by the flame, and therefore can'never project sufficiently to interfere with replacing the torch in the can.

The splints are provided in quantities, and each one contains a number of wafers.

Another feature of my invention relates to the construction of the wick-receiver in torches of this description, and consists in a case with a central hole to receive the stem of the torch,

and a cover fast to the stem of the torch, the

case 6 being movable on the stem, and its cover, which is fast to the stem, being adapted to be connected to the case to retain itin place and to be disconnected from the case to allow it to be moved away from the cover to replace the wicking.

It will be obvious that a variety of means may be used to hold the case b to its cover; but the simplest is to turn the edge of the cover or flange forward upon the rim of the case, as shown in the drawings. This edge I) can be readily turned back to release'the case b from the cover b", as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. The case b then is slid down the stem, the wicking replaced, and the case slid back and again secured to the cover.

What I claim as my invention is l. The combination, with a nightsignal .ble on, the stem when the case is not held by 30 the cover.

CHAS. TEN NANT LEE.

lVitnesses:

J. E. MAYNADIER, JOHN R. SNow. 

